President’s Report & Forum Update

The AGM should serve as a reminder to all of our existence: to exchange ideas, to learn and inspire, and to promote better leadership for a changing world. Affirming IWFSA locally and globally The IWFSA work this year built on the sterling foundation established here in South Africa and globally (working with the Washington DC office). As the current Board (appointed in 2011) we prioritized governance and fundraising to maximize efforts and ensure sound institutionalization towards sustainability. To this end we re-established the head office in Hyde Park and employed…

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Providing LeadershipA fundamental issue for the on-going transformation in any organization into a service provider of the future, in particular, is leadership. Leadership at all levels to make things happen. As the leader, the key to managing such transformation was to institute an enterprise wide change management strategy whose key focus was to establish a credible case for change; mobilize support for the management team; communicate; effectively involve all people etc. In these circumstances it was my responsibility as the leader to build capacity to embrace change to ensure that any change initiatives that are focused on creating high performing teams are defined, developed and delivered in a timely manner.

Strategic Planning and ManagementAs a leader it was my responsibility to ensure that the process of making fundamental improvements in service delivery started with an understanding of the strategic intent, before being bogged down with operational issues and crisis management. An understanding of the entire value chain from the political imperatives which drove policy to how policy was developed and how it was implemented was crucial. This enabled everyone within the organization to not only understand their roles in a larger context but also enabled them in strategizing for the future.

Administrative ExpertiseIn all the jobs I held effective and efficient service delivery required the need to have a strong administrative support system for performance of core functions. This entailed improving the efficiency of functions in the various business units by making work processes better, faster and cheaper to achieve results. It was also my responsibility and the team I lead to prove the value of our administrative expertise by rethinking how work was done and where required, implement a system that allowed for sharing of information and certain services and created centres of expertise that gathered, coordinated and disseminated vital information about clients, processes, services etc.

Managing and Monitoring Performance of StaffAs both leader and manager I was responsible for establishing an effective control environment as part of my stewardship responsibility over the use of resources. I ensured that the management team set the tone through their actions, policies and procedures that resulted in a culture of positive control. Planning, implementing, supervising and monitoring formed fundamental components of a sound system of internal control. I subscribed (and still do) to the view that successful organizations are those that are able to quickly turn strategy into action, maximize employee contribution and commitment and create conditions for seamless change. Linked to strategic planning and management was the implementation of the performance management system for sections, business units and individuals where performance targets were set to manage staff towards specific outputs.

Stakeholder Management and NetworkingThe major portion of my latest working life was in local government and stakeholders included councillors, management, staff, trade unions, local communities, general public, higher levels of government, suppliers etc. Effective and efficient service delivery required that relationships with all these stakeholders be maintained. Successful implementation of service delivery programmes and projects sometimes required the organization I worked for to call on the expertise of key players in the broader community to act as source of local knowledge and ensure everyone works towards the stated objectives. The broader community, private sector and higher levels of government were very useful sources of additional ideas and resources.

Jenna Clifford began in the jewellery industry 27 years ago and launched her company, Jenna Clifford (Pty) Limited, in 1992. The company has manufactured some of South Africa’s most prestigious jewellery and trophies. Clifford was involved in the creation of the Businesswomen’s Association and received the 1997 Rentmeester/Rapport award for Most Inspirational and Beautiful Woman of South Africa. She was an honoree in the 1998 International Who’s Who of Professional and Businesswomen, nominated for achievements and contributions to society.

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Ana Fasulakis is the Chairman of Sure Travel. She is the largest shareholder of a company which is now a franchise with 133 members.

1 in 5 travellers in South Africa use Sure Travel offices for their travel arrangements.

Ana first entered the travel industry in 1962. She and her partner started Yale Travel which they sold to Rennies Travel in 1969. She became the first women director of Rennies Travel which became the 2nd largest group in South Africa. When it merged with Thomas Cook, Ana remained in control of sales and marketing for the group for some years.

She then started her own company once again, Travkor. She has been an avid support of women and in the early stages of the Business Women’s Association of South Africa, she was appointed to the executive council of Barclays Women’s Executive Club.

Ana and her company have won numerous awards in this industry and she is considered a Doyen. She has, and still is, handling some of the biggest companies travel and incentive travel requirements and is unequalled in South Africa.

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Isabella is Group Corporate Affairs Director at Group Five since 2008. She holds an MBA (Bond University, Australia); a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (WBS) School); a BA degree (NUL); a Diploma in Marketing Communication (Vega Brand School); Certificate in Labour Law ( UP); Diploma in Labour Law (GMIT); Certificate in Executive Development (GIBS, University of Pretoria and Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, USA respectively); and Strategic Public Affairs (Pinnacle, London UK). She is a certified Global Remuneration Professional.

Isabella is responsible for Group Five's Branding, Communications, Government and Public Affairs. She also heads Group Five's Basadi programme; a transformation initiative aimed at fast tracking the development and empowerment of female employees within the group as well as women owned businesses within the Construction and Built Environment sector.

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Dr. Carol-Ann Benn is considered to be one of the top breast-cancer experts in South Africa. Her commitment and determination to the field has seen her help many women during their life changing struggle with this hereditary condition.

After working as a surgeon at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for six years, in 1998, Carol-Ann was faced with the decision of which direction to take her career in.With the help of Dr Myron Lange, a breast cancer specialist with 30 years experience, Carol-Ann learned about breast disease, which furthered her love for the subject. She has subsequently established a breast cancer clinic at three other hospitals: Baragwanath, Helen Joseph and Milpark. In addition to this remarkable achievement, Carol-Ann is a doctor who has built incredible loyalty to her patients and at Wits University, where she currently teaches.

This brilliant woman knew from a young age that healing was her calling, “I remember as a small girl telling my Dad that I want to do medicine, so that I can help people and make a difference.”

Choosing a specialization was not an easy choice, at first Carol-Ann spent most of her time in trauma surgery, but once she became a senior surgical registrar at a breast clinic in Johannesburg Hospital, she knew she was in the right place, “The previous surgeon in charge had retired and I immediately bonded with these rows upon rows of women. The stricken faces of those just diagnosed with cancer and the worried faces of those thinking that maybe their breast pain, nipple discharges or breast lumps were cancerous.”

A self-stated career highlight for Carol-Ann is having helped establish “world-class or reconstructive centres in private and Government hospitals, which offers counseling advice and holistic health.” The Breast Health Foundation that she has started is a national body, with the purpose of both patients and medical practitioners through the means of forums and outreach.

Balancing a career with family life is a struggle that most professional mothers endure, but Carol-Ann considers herself lucky. She receives good support from her family, especially her husband, and she works extremely hard, showing true dedication to her work and patients. She believes in empowering other people and does not believe in failure. “A person should look past weakness and seek your strengths. I strongly believe in reaching for my goals and obtaining them.”

An average day for her is non-stop busy, but fortunately she has been able to channel her sometimes hyperactivity into successful multitasking, often working past midnight. Yes, she can definitely be considered as a woman to look up to, as she has broken barriers in a very male dominated field, “I am often regarded by my male counter-parts as an oddity as I am the only woman in my field. I had to overcome the [patriarchal] attitudes of males who did not believe that I could succeed.”

Carol- Ann has certainly helped to bring empathy to medicine, “I had to teach my colleagues who were not seeing the greater picture to help people. I was the first woman to break through a male-dominated profession and make a success of my career.”

Carol-Ann’s daily inspiration is her patients, women with breast cancer. She is driven to provide the best possible health care for them and ensures that their health needs are met. She will often see a patient in her private practice, but then because of the patients financial constraints, refer them for surgery to a public hospital. She never turns anyone away and does not charge people who cannot afford to pay.

“I am a complete optimistic, an idealist who sees the whole picture and works toward it. I am extremely hardworking and don’t believe in failure.”

Consulting both women and men with breast problems in all walks of life and helping them is only part of what Carol-Ann’s job entails. Unlike most doctors, Carol-Ann gives her patients her cellphone number so that they can call her if they are having a difficult time.

The one thing that Carol has not yet achieved in her career or life that she hopes to is to see surgical breast units in Provinces throughout the country, and make every woman aware of breast examination and mammograms.

“The fact that breast cancer is not a flu and that it is not running around the body 24 hours has made us realize that there is no such thing as an emergency mastectomy, and the patient and not the doctor is the centre of the process.”

Carol has had many job offers from overseas, but she has resisted them. “This is not about the money”, she says, I love this country and would not think of moving.” And we as South African women are all the better for it, and for dedicated women like Dr. Carol-Ann Benn.

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General Nursing and Midwifery (Baragwanath Hospital, 1987), Certificate Programme in Industrial Relations (Wits Business School, 1991), Executive Development Programme (CTC, New School of Social Research, New York, 1995), International Registry of Organisational Professionals (Louw De Toit&Associates,UK), Telecommunications Network Engineering (Mathew Bolton, UK, 2000)

Ms Lombard was born and brought up in Soweto, Johannesburg. Ms Lombard has been an HR Practitioner for the past 20 years, having had the opportunity to work as an Industrial Relations Officer, Resourcing Specialist, HR Development Specialist, Talent Management and HR Generalist. In 2001, Ms Lombard moved out of HR to manage a division of Telecommunications Network Specialists looking after some of the top 100 companies Network Services.

Ms Lombard has had a good exposure working for local and global companies, within and out of SA, including Alexander Forbes, JP Morgan, Telkom SA, British Telkom, De Beers Consolidated Mines, Barclays Bank and Standard Chartered Bank. She was a Non–Executive Director at Jo’ Burg Theatre, Pro Musica and Soweto Theatre for the City of Jo’burg. Ms Lombard is currently a Non–Executive Director at, Pio Trans- Metro Bus, and BRT Rea Vaya.

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Zeona is the Director of Issuer and Investor Relations for the JSE. She is a senior executive with 20 years of experience in corporate, governmental and communications organisations.

In recent years she has worked in executive positions in listed companies, start-ups, turnarounds and companies in transitions in disciplines which include communications, regulatory, legal and, merges and acquisitions. These organisations include Altech, Multi-Links (Nigeria), Telkom Group, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Herd-buoys McCann, Cell C and Lobedu Leo Burnett.

Her contribution lies in her ability to work in highly complex situations, with clarity and structure. Her approach in environments of change is to determine who the core stakeholder groups are, what the context of the change is and then to build teams to effect sustainable change and delivery against the business objective. Her diverse experience and exposure gives her depth and breadth in the business environment. These include:

Executive and public positions: Senior management and executive positions in private and public companies; Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Cell C, Altech and Telkom.

International experience: She has worked across the African continent, the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. She was based in Nigeria for 18 months.

Board Directorship: Board membership in a wide variety of industries and companies including Nestle, Bankserv, Johannesburg Social Housing Company.

Innovation on a national scale: Successfully introduced and launched "Take A Girl Child to Work Day" for Cell C as their Corporate Social Investment programme in 2002.

Education and Credentials

Damelin College, Johannesburg, Business Management Programme

University of the Witwatersrand Business School, Management Advancement Programme

Aspen Institute of Leadership, Executive Leadership Training

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Ms Cookie Naidoo

Cookie Naidoo brings experience that has taken her from her administrative Executive Assistant role to Office Management with Board Support, Events Management and Stakeholder engagement at local and global levels. This she draws from her stint at SA Breweries and long career at the South African Post Office (SAPO) where she worked at the Postbank, SAPO International office and different divisions of SAPO.

Cookie has a deep passion talking to women on different levels who have life challenges or problems that prevent them from fulfilling their purpose in life. She values family time, reading, listening to gospel music and enjoys gardening and baking.

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Beverley Damonse is the Group Executive: Science Engagement and Corporate Relations of the National Research Foundation (NRF), driving strategy development and implementation in the areas of science communication, education, public engagement with science and corporate relations. In this portfolio, she connects chiefly with government, researchers and scientists, both nationally and internationally, science centers, outreach and awareness partners as well as media partners.

Beverley is a member of The International Women's Forum of South Africa (IWFSA), invited member of the NRF Board, a member of The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP) Advisory Board, a member of the Cape Town Science Centre Board and invited member of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS) Advisory Board.

She obtained a BSc (Microbiology and Plant Pathology), B.Ed and MEd from the then University of Natal (now UKZN) and a doctorate degree (Education Policy and Management) from the University of Pretoria.

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Grathel is a qualified Chartered Accountant with immense business and financial experience accumulated at various entities over a period of time. She is an Audit Partner within the Energy and Natural Resources Business Unit of KPMG. Her prior employments include:

Group Chief Financial Officer of Blue IQ Investments (Pty) Ltd, where she was responsible for overall group financial accounting and management, Information Technology and Risk Management.

Amabubesi Investments, where she was responsible for overall management of the Investment Fund which included ensuring maximum returns on investments and administration thereof.

Asset and Liability Management Division of the National Treasury where she was responsible for the restructuring of State Owned Entities within the Energy and Telecommunications sectors which included Telkom, Eskom, Central Energy Fund, SABC and Sentech as well as the participation in the industries in which these entities operate;

Stanbic Africa, a division of Standard Bank Limited of South Africa, where she was involved in credit evaluation of transactions for companies operating in South Africa, but outside of the South African borders. Her portfolio included clients from numerous industries including cotton, sugar, and tobacco in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Botswana;

The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa Limited (“IDC”)’ Technology Industries Business Unit. Performing due diligences, deal origination and structuring of equity and loan transactions within the Electrical, Electronics, Information Technology and Telecommunication sectors.

She commenced her career with KPMG’s Johannesburg Office where she served her audit articles within the Services and Retail Division and later moved to the Computer Audit Division. During this period, she was exposed to companies operating within the manufacturing, retail, property and financial services.

Grathel is currently a non-executive board member of the African Women Chartered Accountants Forum.

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At presentDawn Nathan-Jones, leader of one of South Africa’s most successful car rental companies, Europcar, has been at the helm of the company as its Chief Executive Officer for the last 14 years.She showed her strong vision and leadership qualities when in 2007 she successfully spearheaded the immense, complex and successful rebranding of Imperial Car Rental to Europcar. Dawn was also instrumental in refreshing and repositioning the Imperial Group brand in 2009.

Career PathDawn started what was to become a lifetime career with Imperial Car Rental in Durban in 1980 when the company was a few months old. After several promotions, Dawn was transferred to Johannesburg in 1984 where she took up the position of National Sales Manager and appointed to the board in 1986. In 1990 she was appointed Sales, Operations and Marketing Director on an Executive level. Dawn took over the steering wheel from Imperial Car Rental founder, Carol Scott, as head of the company in September 1999. Dawn also serves on the board of Imperial – Car Rental and Tourism Division and since March 2013 is a member of Imperial’s Executive Committee (EXCO). In June 2013 Dawn was awarded the prestigious Women of the World Award

Professional MembershipsDawn has played a role in the industry body of SAVRALA for the past 20 years, and in October 2012, was appointed as Vice President. She is a member of the Business Women’s Association, Institute of Directors and Boss of the Year club. She has also been involved in many Tourism initiatives and is an active member of Tourism Business Council SA, and sits on many advisory boards.

Corporate Social ResponsibilityDawn is currently a patron of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Miracle Drive and the Ukhamba and Imperial Community Development Trust and takes part in social upliftment projects and abandoned children.Dawn has been instrumental in the development of a Green Charter for Europcar, which offers the business a sustainable and quantifiable strategy to reduce and its carbon emissions.

Special InterestsDawn’s hobbies and interests include regular workouts at the gym, walking, spinning and is a lover of wildlife. Dawn has a seven year old son, Daniel.

EDUCATIONAL HISTORYTERTIARYUniversity of KwaZulu-NatalCompleted 1985MBChBUniversity of the Free StateCompleted 1996Diploma in Occupational HealthHealthUniversity of the WitwatersrandCompleted 1999Master of Business Administration